Interested in becoming an HSOW foster home?

Foster/Adoption Objective

Our objective is to rescue as many homeless pets as we have foster homes for, one at a time.  Unfortunately, we cannot rescue every cat or dog that is turned into the shelter. Our priority is to take dogs and cats from the Wilkes County Animal Shelter. As space allows, we will also take animals from other shelters, and occasionally directly from owners. We also take back any foster pet who has been adopted from us but needs to be rehomed.

Things to Consider Before Deciding to Foster a Pet

• Are you a current HSOW member? If not are you willing to become a member before fostering?

• Are all members in your household in agreement with your plan to foster?

• If renting, are you allowed to foster?

• Fostering primarily involves caring for the pet as if it were your own. This means taking the pet to the vet to keep the pet updated on shots and when it needs to be spayed or neutered.

• Fostering sometimes involves house training, crate training, leash training, and socializing. Do you realistically have the time and patience to accomplish these tasks?

• There is usually a reason potential fosters pets are given up (ex: not housebroken, behavior problems) and some will require more attention and care than your own pets.

• Are you prepared for unexpected barking or whining?

• Although we often have donations we can give to our foster homes there may be expenses that the Humane Society cannot reimburse you for, ex: dog or cat food, cat litter.

• Is your home suitable for foster pets?  Do you have a place to separate those pets that do not get along with your own or that require temporary isolation because of a transferable disease or virus?

• Are your own pets' vaccinations up to date in case a foster pet carries a disease or virus? ex: Kennel Cough, Feline Leukemia? Have your cats been tested for Feline Leukemia and FIV?

• If circumstances come up and you cannot keep a foster for the length of time it takes to get the foster pet adopted, it will be your responsibility to find another foster person to take in your foster.

• Are you willing to schedule meetings with potential adopters to see and socialize with your foster pet? You can use the HSOW building or PetSmart as a meeting spot. 

• Are you willing to bring the foster pet and/or stay with the foster pet on scheduled adoption fairs?  The more adoption fairs the foster pet is brought to, the quicker the adoption.  This is one of our main sources of contact with potential adopters. It also helps to socialize the fosters.

• If fostering cats, are you willing to leave them at the PetSmart Adoption Center for adoption once they are spayed/neutered?

• Some foster pets take longer than others to place.  Are you willing to care for a foster as long as 6 months or more?

• Will you be able to say good-bye to the pet when a suitable home has been found?

If you said yes to most of the above, please fill out the application below to become a HSOW foster home below!